Hinge for suit-cases.



J! CRANZLEB.

HINGE FOR SUIT GASES.

APPLICATION FILED use. 9, 1912.

1,052,892,, Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

vlu

JACOB CRANZLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HINGE FOR SUIT-CASES.

rosassa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

Application filed December 9, 1912. Serial No. 735,857.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB CRANZLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1416 Thomas street, New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hinges for Suit-Cases, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in hinges for boxes or the like, and more particularly to hinges for suit cases, the body portion of which is made of leather, leather substitutes or the like, strengthening by a suitable reinforcing frame.

An object of the invention is to provide a hinge for the cover of the case, which is so constructed that said hinge may be firmly connected to the strengthening frame for the body portion of the case. Y

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration, one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 isa perspective view of a suit case having my improved hinges applied thereto, certain of the parts being broken away to show the structure of the hinge; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hinges; and Fig. 4 is a. detail in plan, showing the hinge before it is attached to the case.

The invention consists generally in providing a hinge whichis formed with the usual two leaves joined by a pintle which allows the leaves to turn freely upon each other. The leaf which is to be attached to the body portion of the case is formed with an extension adapted to extend around the top edge of the body portion on to the inner face of the case, where it may be secured through the body portion to the leaf to which it is attached.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown a suitcasc'l, which is formed with the usual body portion 2, and cover 3. This body portion is provided with a strengthening frame 4 at its upper edge, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.- The material forming the body portion of the case extends about this reinforcing frame, and is stitched or otherwise secured around the same.

My improved hinge for securing the cover to the body portion consists of a leaf 5 havng openings 6, 6 therethrough, which leaf is adapted to be riveted by suitable rivets 7 to the cover. The hinge also includes a second leaf 8. Each leaf of the hinge is provided with looped portions, through which a pintle 9 extends for pivotally securing the leaves of the hinge together. The leaf 8 is formed, as herein shown, with a single apert-ure 10. This leaf is adapted to be secured to the body portion of the case, so that the upper edge 11 thereof is adjacent the top edge of the body portion. Said leaf 8 is provided with an extension 12, which, as herein shown, is formed integral with the leaf, and extends from the upper edge thereof. Said extension, as shown, where it iolns the leaf 8 is made narrower than the leaf.

The extension is bent downwardly so as to lie substantially parallel with the leaf 8, and is provided with an aperture 13, which is in alinement with the aperture 10 in the leaf. This extension is adapted to extend over the upper edge of the body portion on to the inner face thereof, and a rivet 14 is inserted through the a ertures 10 and 13 and passes through the ody portion of the case. As shown in the drawings, this rivet passes through the body portion at a point below the reinforcing frame 4. It will be obvious, howeverfirhat this rivet may, if desired, be passed throu h the reinforcing frame itself. In either lnstance, the leaf 8 of the hinge is firmly connected to the reinforcing frame through the extension which substantially encircles said frame and is held clamped thereto by the securing rivet 14. i

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided a hinge wherein 'the pintle is located at some dis tance below the top edge of the body portion of the case, so that a cover having a depending flange may be secured to the body portion, and when closed upon the bodv portion, said flange extends beneath the lower edge of the body portion. This hin e. through the extension formed at the free edge of the leaf secured to the body portion, is firmly united to the body portion and the reinforcing frame at the top too edge thereof. Therefore, the strain of the cover through the hinge is brought to bear directly on the reinforcing frame, and

thereby I have provided a durable construction, which is also simple and can be made at a relatively small cost.

The strengthening frame at the upper edge of the body portion of the case is preferably rectangular in cross sectidn, and the extension attached to the leaf 8 of the hinge is bent around this rectangular frame. The lower end of the, extension is preferably provided with laterally extending portions forming shoulders 15. These shoulders 15 lie underneath the strengthening frame, when the extension is attached to the body portion of the case and serve to further remove the strain from the leaf 8 of the hinge. Furthermore, it will be noted that by my form of hinge, the leaf 8 extends upward from the pintle, and lies underneath the downwardly projecting flange of the cover, when the case is closed, and, therefore, it is not necessary to cut the material so that the hinge leaf may be inserted beneath the outer layer of material forming the case, as has heretofore been customary.

While I have shown my hinge cut away to form shoulders 11, it will be apparent from certain aspects of the invention that the hinge may .be made without these cut away portions.

It will be apparent from the above description that my hinge may be attached to the case without the use of washers or burs, and that no rivets appear on the outside of the case beneath the cover flange. Furthermore, by my hinge which is attached to the strengthening frame, there is no liability of the hinge tearing or breaking the body material of the case.

While I have referred to my invention as being applied to a suit case, it is to be un-. derstood that I have used this term in the broadest sense, and intend that the same shall cover all forms of cases, boxes or the like, which are provided with a cover hav: ing a downwardly projecting flange adapted to set over the upper edge of the body portion of the box or case.

v It is obvious that minor changes in. the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hinge for a suit case, comprising a leaf secured to the cover, a leaf secured to the body portion of the case,.and a pintle for pivotally connecting said leaves together, said leaf for the body portion being disposed with its free e ge adjacent the top edge of said body portion, and having an extension extending over said top edge, on to the inner face thereof, and means extending through the body portion for securing said extension to the leaf carrying the same.

2. A hinge for a suit case, comprising a leaf secured to the cover, a'leaf secured to the body portion of the case, a pintle for pivotally connecting said leaves together said leaf for the body portion being disposed with its free edge adjacent the top edge of said body portion, and having an extension narrower than the leaf, which is adapted to extend over the top edge, and on to the inner face thereof, said extension at the lower end thereof being provided with laterally projecting shoulders adapted to lie underneath the strengthening frame of the case, and means for securing said extension through the body portion of the case, to the leaf carryin the same.

In testimonv whereo I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB CRANZLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. RIORDON, GRACE I BRERETON. 

